tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80205896470291374502019-02-22T01:24:13.296-08:00Concretedogjo hinchliffenoreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-85728226424665582292019-02-12T04:27:00.001-08:002019-02-12T05:41:52.341-08:00FOSDEM 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ex7JNGuK-SM/XGK26GLNSlI/AAAAAAAAFRw/sWr53B_58o0hbe-4R6EO7mAM4Yly2jBhACLcBGAs/s1600/croppedAWbuildingsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1415" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ex7JNGuK-SM/XGK26GLNSlI/AAAAAAAAFRw/sWr53B_58o0hbe-4R6EO7mAM4Yly2jBhACLcBGAs/s400/croppedAWbuildingsign.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A snowy welcome on the saturday!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFKOAKy4F3Y/XGK22eUbzPI/AAAAAAAAFRk/2NL8n5Yj9xwMiLDDsgrvUD-8u18KmVJpgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_175414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFKOAKy4F3Y/XGK22eUbzPI/AAAAAAAAFRk/2NL8n5Yj9xwMiLDDsgrvUD-8u18KmVJpgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190203_175414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The huuuge keynote by mad dog. Amazing sight!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was incredibly lucky to go out to <a href="https://fosdem.org/2019/">FOSDEM</a> as part of the <a href="https://libre.space/">Libre Space Foundation </a>(LSF) team the other week and despite lots of snow and travel disruption had a great time hanging out and working over in Brussels. It was my first time at FOSDEM and I was blown away by the worlds largest conference. It was fabulous to be able to move around and see and meet the teams behind some of the most prevalent open source software, debian, opensuse, grafana, gitlab, nextcloud and so many more. As currently I am freelancing mainly as a writer I made sure to have a little chat and express my thanks to the Libre Office team, whilst it might not be the most exciting platform in the world it does provide me with the basic tooling to earn my living!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o__dGVPoUAo/XGK6cyvbmiI/AAAAAAAAFSI/Q9B2_-5mpeQfyTofjTwA1d9UOqaDTgx0wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190202_105556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o__dGVPoUAo/XGK6cyvbmiI/AAAAAAAAFSI/Q9B2_-5mpeQfyTofjTwA1d9UOqaDTgx0wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190202_105556.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lQovpoNfaE/XGK18_B-oOI/AAAAAAAAFQk/oGKaHDGEAY4V7Hu3M5rountWDSpOFlyNwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190202_112136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lQovpoNfaE/XGK18_B-oOI/AAAAAAAAFQk/oGKaHDGEAY4V7Hu3M5rountWDSpOFlyNwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190202_112136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above, the Gitlab team who have been great supporters of LSF.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFEmyeOXTj0/XGK18prb9JI/AAAAAAAAFQo/iD9XLyTvqIo3jlHswafr6RLVM3evW5dpACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190202_121425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFEmyeOXTj0/XGK18prb9JI/AAAAAAAAFQo/iD9XLyTvqIo3jlHswafr6RLVM3evW5dpACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190202_121425.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LSF/SatNOGS contributors meet the Grafana team (and inform them of an Influx db bug they found!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Going out early the LSF set up camp in a large apartment (The Mansion) and LSF contributors poured in from all over europe staying a while to have meetings, hack on code and discuss development face to face. Its astonishing, humbling and exciting to see these volunteers pour their considerable skills into LSF project. As a more mechanical guy it was hard to follow much of the development but everyone was incredibly kind and patient and willing to teach others. Very affirming. (Although there was some discussion around rocketry hardware which funnily made me boot my tiny laptop to show how my ematch ignitor circuit works!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssn0FqC4pv4/XGK6ZX-vpKI/AAAAAAAAFSE/3bSRMqZ2aIc3ZsXQwgHDVmRhf3gbXjTBgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190201_150905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ssn0FqC4pv4/XGK6ZX-vpKI/AAAAAAAAFSE/3bSRMqZ2aIc3ZsXQwgHDVmRhf3gbXjTBgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190201_150905.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Team... looking tired on the Saturday night!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKQh63KmM3A/XGK19BYY7pI/AAAAAAAAFQs/fWbN0ipnvD8Lxm38TLGgbfrFIbunZf-VwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190201_173747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKQh63KmM3A/XGK19BYY7pI/AAAAAAAAFQs/fWbN0ipnvD8Lxm38TLGgbfrFIbunZf-VwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190201_173747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flying Ryan air means taking the worlds tiniest laptop!</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nNGLIJsItc/XGK2QkMwbFI/AAAAAAAAFRA/YZHHwLgRuXcGmxyY8Zo4NV4OFlTWwDsiACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_111726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nNGLIJsItc/XGK2QkMwbFI/AAAAAAAAFRA/YZHHwLgRuXcGmxyY8Zo4NV4OFlTWwDsiACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190203_111726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A busy booth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />FOSDEM was incredibly busy and I spent some time each day helping on the LSF booth, speaking to a constant flow of people from all over the planet about our missions to democratise space and provide open hardware and software to enable people to get involved. Hopefully it results in more people supporting what we do but also I feel sure that certainly a few more people are interested in moving towards setting up their own <a href="https://satnogs.org/">SatNOGS groundstations on the global network</a>.<br /><br />General picture dump..<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaLJuX7iPzk/XGK2LRkYfcI/AAAAAAAAFQw/xxlyNpE_vBssNtoeabi-vEXi936Bme67ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_085939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaLJuX7iPzk/XGK2LRkYfcI/AAAAAAAAFQw/xxlyNpE_vBssNtoeabi-vEXi936Bme67ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20190203_085939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20u-t4NUw8Q/XGK2QO2lQFI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/xQ12g-voldsq-z-VJNtP0b3AMYimaTIYwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_114632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20u-t4NUw8Q/XGK2QO2lQFI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/xQ12g-voldsq-z-VJNtP0b3AMYimaTIYwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20190203_114632.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loved this!</div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3W9xJk2oLA4/XGK2dKYHkkI/AAAAAAAAFRI/nFZGWngSnZ0qjNU5qjXKVNDQesnBgHu-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_122503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3W9xJk2oLA4/XGK2dKYHkkI/AAAAAAAAFRI/nFZGWngSnZ0qjNU5qjXKVNDQesnBgHu-gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20190203_122503.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many LSF people! All in to see Alex Csete talk about our SDR makerspace project</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaIANqEn4sA/XGK2oTeFGhI/AAAAAAAAFRc/EmfelWuGn2s17Zmw4MeXBylr_p_rw5emwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190203_125144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaIANqEn4sA/XGK2oTeFGhI/AAAAAAAAFRc/EmfelWuGn2s17Zmw4MeXBylr_p_rw5emwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20190203_125144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-6869917483308265412019-01-23T02:25:00.000-08:002019-01-23T02:25:26.085-08:00Project Roundup!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCN7O_K1Ny8/XEg7uGV8QKI/AAAAAAAAFMY/U7wvHRNZs188AxSAqQHothB5GB4kXn9AwCLcBGAs/s1600/l2_colours.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1279" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCN7O_K1Ny8/XEg7uGV8QKI/AAAAAAAAFMY/U7wvHRNZs188AxSAqQHothB5GB4kXn9AwCLcBGAs/s640/l2_colours.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Been a while since I posted here so thought I might get the ball rolling again with a little round up of current projects I am tinkering on. Above is a picture of a planned level two rocket build I am starting to work on as it would be great if I could get my L2 certification flight and exam done this year and also pass my RSO (Range Safety Officer) as well. That would mean that it could be possible for me to officiate over other people HPR flights but could also look into the possibility of running a launch event more locally?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNVMZL2drdM/XEg9rb08rgI/AAAAAAAAFM8/tSQEnXQX6a4riQY-codsmgeLk-FDcx8lQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181228_200054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNVMZL2drdM/XEg9rb08rgI/AAAAAAAAFM8/tSQEnXQX6a4riQY-codsmgeLk-FDcx8lQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181228_200054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eteTTBz5ios/XEg88CKK21I/AAAAAAAAFMg/iWuq2fqXkzAfzCcv2WEpsfkOc9b9JpCxwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190122_200755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eteTTBz5ios/XEg88CKK21I/AAAAAAAAFMg/iWuq2fqXkzAfzCcv2WEpsfkOc9b9JpCxwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190122_200755.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also on an off since before Xmas been tinkering with some odd parachute designs, first playing with plastic and tape and now moving to making a ripstop nylon version. These hexagonal annular parachutes fly quite well, have low side loading and seem very strong due to the way the shroud lines continue over the canopy. I'm slowly developing more skills and knowledge around recovery/chute making and have a few other projects I want to explore.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQLzNvN85kI/XEg9RWsfU1I/AAAAAAAAFMw/jdTDFswSrGMeQKEDBww9uUeWi9tIFIdHgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190104_203725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQLzNvN85kI/XEg9RWsfU1I/AAAAAAAAFMw/jdTDFswSrGMeQKEDBww9uUeWi9tIFIdHgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190104_203725.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDxY_iw4G8A/XEg9ol6nRCI/AAAAAAAAFM4/qMZmSOqRelY6jzPJicFx4G7Xa2z_Pb8DACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190102_190226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iDxY_iw4G8A/XEg9ol6nRCI/AAAAAAAAFM4/qMZmSOqRelY6jzPJicFx4G7Xa2z_Pb8DACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190102_190226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been tinkering on and off with a simple GPS tracker design using a NEO6 gps board and&nbsp; HC12 radios. My current off the shelf GPS tracker (works on mobile network) is too large for a 29mm rocket airframe I am considering and therefore this route gives more options in terms of getting it to fit. The tracker currently spits whole NMEA sentences which are received by another HC12 hooked up to the one note mini laptop and the whole thing acts as a wireless serial bridge.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nh8_6aGTpMA/XEg8-DGnw5I/AAAAAAAAFMk/PscRoGIYmq8VllZNHHH3cc1q6fN1zCEUgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20190108_104944%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nh8_6aGTpMA/XEg8-DGnw5I/AAAAAAAAFMk/PscRoGIYmq8VllZNHHH3cc1q6fN1zCEUgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20190108_104944%257E2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally been making, machining and tinkering with various things to write some more articles for <a href="https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/">Hackspace Magazine</a>, I'm really enjoying the writing and hopefully the articles are being well received! I'll post a roundup of articles out so far after the next issue with some of my work is published.</div><br /><br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-60901027773987388562018-12-15T12:41:00.002-08:002018-12-15T12:41:32.396-08:003d printed lathe carriage lock.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKqxep1D8sA/XBU6vFitnfI/AAAAAAAACJ0/eup_nO6gxSAyG7SOB3r80nAVXRiKEdsWgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181215_150701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKqxep1D8sA/XBU6vFitnfI/AAAAAAAACJ0/eup_nO6gxSAyG7SOB3r80nAVXRiKEdsWgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181215_150701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKqxep1D8sA/XBU6vFitnfI/AAAAAAAACJ0/eup_nO6gxSAyG7SOB3r80nAVXRiKEdsWgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181215_150701.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A while back I saw this&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2231067">lathe accessory on thingiverse</a> and downloaded the files, I printed the bits a few days ago and have been fiddling with it on and off, press fitting captive nuts inside it and tapping sections.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TW5Bt_EmTfY/XBU6y6hDfGI/AAAAAAAACJ4/sHf6fClg6ng3XqJmrjTV1TdznXcUxoLCQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181215_150002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TW5Bt_EmTfY/XBU6y6hDfGI/AAAAAAAACJ4/sHf6fClg6ng3XqJmrjTV1TdznXcUxoLCQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181215_150002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a handy little thing for 2 purposes, it has a profile that allows it to be clamped to the lathe ways and also has a clampable hole that accepts something that is 8mm diameter. So it's very handy for holding a dial test indicator (as above) for example to make a very precise last cut or other accurate positional stuff.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ishu4FFRqJo/XBU60K3WBfI/AAAAAAAACJ8/cu3eIGX5fjAk3f598MfVJN0WAyWDDXyyACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181215_150626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ishu4FFRqJo/XBU60K3WBfI/AAAAAAAACJ8/cu3eIGX5fjAk3f598MfVJN0WAyWDDXyyACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181215_150626.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's also pretty useful with just an 8mm piece of steel bar in it and the bar can be set to a fixed position and it acts as a stop guide for the carriage. Useful for quickly making repeat passes/cuts on a job to the exact same point. I like the idea and it works ok, I might do a redesign at some point as I think making the assembly a bit wider would be useful and would increase its clamping force making it adhere to the ways more securely.</div>jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-82116193869569569762018-12-13T03:37:00.000-08:002018-12-13T03:37:09.091-08:00Scheduling an Observation on SatNOGSThe other week, as part of my presentation at <a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2018/11/inspace-3-satnogs-wales-aerospace-and.html">INSPACE 3</a> I included a few slides about how simple it is to schedule an observation on a satNOGS ground station. If you build and deploy your own&nbsp; ground station as part of the network you can then schedule any station on the network, but until you do that you can't and that means that this aspect of satNOGS operation remains unseen. I realised at this talk that people might feel that this part of operating a SatNOGS station is complex! Let me reassure you it isn't! All scheduling happens via the <a href="http://satnogs.org/">satnogs.org</a> website and lets walk through how it works!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5eTCXHIhV0/XBIyxDkM1VI/AAAAAAAACJM/pRvbIsmtdKIVFSK5x718QcxsHLL7gZr5gCLcBGAs/s1600/station_landing_page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1236" height="297" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5eTCXHIhV0/XBIyxDkM1VI/AAAAAAAACJM/pRvbIsmtdKIVFSK5x718QcxsHLL7gZr5gCLcBGAs/s640/station_landing_page.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So when you log in you get sent to your dashboard&nbsp; landing on your stations page. Above we see my station number 217. There's some basic info about the station and a map. As a side note if I am here to check a previous observation on my station I can hit the blue "view all" button and it takes me to a list of observations. However we are going to scroll down and set up a new future observation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLEGuOPu9Zc/XBIyw2gmj2I/AAAAAAAACJI/fdhWNKun6ocT31Re-QrHjyiJUF7_ejEKQCLcBGAs/s1600/scrolleddown_pass_predictions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1200" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLEGuOPu9Zc/XBIyw2gmj2I/AAAAAAAACJI/fdhWNKun6ocT31Re-QrHjyiJUF7_ejEKQCLcBGAs/s640/scrolleddown_pass_predictions.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So if we scroll down on our station landing page we get to a box which is continually populated with the future passes of satellites above our station. It has on the left the name of the satellite and a meter which tells us the historic success of satNOGS stations being able to get a good observation of the satellite (this gives a kind of health status of the satellite). Next we see the time frame of the pass then some details about the elevation. Finally a small plot of the pass with the centre of the cross hair representing the position of our ground station, basically the satellite will pass from the green end of the line towards the red. The last object on the right is a schedule button to begin to arrange an observation of that satellite on that pass. However lets just quickly have a look at another useful thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx46fLwgpt0/XBIywRpsnlI/AAAAAAAACJA/MP4fNUndYZYNB7mQvd73japCHHN5ILcIACLcBGAs/s1600/popup_of_info.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1169" height="318" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx46fLwgpt0/XBIywRpsnlI/AAAAAAAACJA/MP4fNUndYZYNB7mQvd73japCHHN5ILcIACLcBGAs/s640/popup_of_info.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back on the left hand side you might notice that each of the satellite names is actually a link. There are so many satellites out there and on the SatNOGS database it's unlikely you will know them all by name! So if you click on the link you get a pop up with an overview of the satellite. For example, above I clicked on the Fox 1B name and it shows me that it is a 1 unit cubesat and that it has a pretty good record of being successfully observed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4EkR6EONR8/XBIyvtMcmlI/AAAAAAAACI0/CkEF5oLceDUZ1YYyU-w09I96o_F0fsszwCLcBGAs/s1600/new_observation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="1213" height="258" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4EkR6EONR8/XBIyvtMcmlI/AAAAAAAACI0/CkEF5oLceDUZ1YYyU-w09I96o_F0fsszwCLcBGAs/s640/new_observation.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, we have closed that popup, and we have clicked the schedule button to set up a new observation of the Fox 1B satellite. We are sent to this page (above) which has details of the satellite and the pass and also a drop down list of the possible transmitters we can schedule to observe. This is important as some satellites may have numerous types of transmitters or transmission we can try to observe. For example a satellite may have a voice aspect (as in radio operators speaking through the satellite as a kind of satellite repeater) but also might have some data being sent separately as telemetry giving details of the satellites condition. Having made sure to select the transmission we want to observe we then click the green schedule button.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IR0vUuhJhRI/XBIywxDrexI/AAAAAAAACJE/oWIsJVLFS8cmYc1xNyx-R5JkM5VJgLBhQCLcBGAs/s1600/scheduled_pending_observation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1185" height="324" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IR0vUuhJhRI/XBIywxDrexI/AAAAAAAACJE/oWIsJVLFS8cmYc1xNyx-R5JkM5VJgLBhQCLcBGAs/s640/scheduled_pending_observation.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we now have an upcoming observation setup and we see the observations individual page. This page (unless for some reason we&nbsp; decide to delete it) will remain as a unique page for this observation. After our station has performed the scheduled observation it should populate with the observation data. So if we come back to this page after the observation we should see an image of the waterfall.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkLgLKAJPdk/XBIyv3M8FII/AAAAAAAACI4/7Z83qYwxzW89--t9Rco3Rv3mc8xGam4RQCLcBGAs/s1600/done_observation_waterfall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="815" height="468" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkLgLKAJPdk/XBIyv3M8FII/AAAAAAAACI4/7Z83qYwxzW89--t9Rco3Rv3mc8xGam4RQCLcBGAs/s640/done_observation_waterfall.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like so! Above is an observation page after the observation and we land on the waterfall tab, if we click the audio tab we should be rewarded with an audio file of the observation which we can play in the browser or download.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZB4c0YIZFY/XBIyuhc6QgI/AAAAAAAACIs/vfC9f-WY70sEgh7KUGnhtYSoQzXIC6TiQCLcBGAs/s1600/done_observation_audio_tab.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="789" height="488" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZB4c0YIZFY/XBIyuhc6QgI/AAAAAAAACIs/vfC9f-WY70sEgh7KUGnhtYSoQzXIC6TiQCLcBGAs/s640/done_observation_audio_tab.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We can also click through to the data tab, now this may be empty dependant on the type of observation and&nbsp; if we were looking for data or not,&nbsp; but if we did receive some data it should be on this tab.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byj1gjoAfCc/XBIyu3kEDPI/AAAAAAAACJQ/en_wxxHq5CwEjf79aThf5dvv3J3k7ok9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/fox_1a_lotsa_data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1190" height="310" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byj1gjoAfCc/XBIyu3kEDPI/AAAAAAAACJQ/en_wxxHq5CwEjf79aThf5dvv3J3k7ok9wCEwYBhgL/s640/fox_1a_lotsa_data.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So above we see some telemetry frame data from the FOX 1 A satellite, for this particular satellite we could copy this data and run it through the free software made available on the satellites mission website and decode what the data means. However for an increasing number of satellites the satNOGS network is set up to decode the data and present it in this tab. This could take different forms but for example if we observe the NOAA satellites we may return to a decoded image in this tab!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDgzr6RKVk0/XBI9JGsjczI/AAAAAAAACJo/KfWrNfO2x1gWhM6moZ6Wj54j9OnyzKH-wCLcBGAs/s1600/data_17085_2018-02-20T07-14-32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="876" height="546" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDgzr6RKVk0/XBI9JGsjczI/AAAAAAAACJo/KfWrNfO2x1gWhM6moZ6Wj54j9OnyzKH-wCLcBGAs/s640/data_17085_2018-02-20T07-14-32.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that's it in a nutshell, I mentioned earlier that on the first dashboard landing page we might click the "view all" observations button and that's a handy way to get to all the observations in a list that our station has either completer or has pending.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMvqZTmxFuM/XBIywIt8muI/AAAAAAAACI8/hw5wrP8AETsSLdmvpDDsdMHA1egADfxzwCLcBGAs/s1600/observations_for_station_page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1216" height="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMvqZTmxFuM/XBIywIt8muI/AAAAAAAACI8/hw5wrP8AETsSLdmvpDDsdMHA1egADfxzwCLcBGAs/s640/observations_for_station_page.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;I hope that that little walk through is useful and shows just how simple it is to get going once you have your station set up! So join us and you can also get hunting satellites! If you are interested in setting up a satNOGS station there are loads of sources of help, not least the<a href="https://community.libre.space/c/satnogs"> satNOGS area</a> on the <a href="https://community.libre.space/">libre space foundation community forum</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-41205811486704796022018-12-10T06:25:00.001-08:002018-12-10T06:27:49.158-08:00Ten Minute Tinker! Embossing with 3d prints. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6EMcH0RPuk/XA53CBDttqI/AAAAAAAACIY/EwdgMcuAYJ02rD8Zsj-Btvzda7LibQhTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181210_141147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6EMcH0RPuk/XA53CBDttqI/AAAAAAAACIY/EwdgMcuAYJ02rD8Zsj-Btvzda7LibQhTQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181210_141147.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>Recently <a href="https://hackaday.com/2018/12/09/easily-deboss-notebooks-with-a-3d-printed-stamp/">hackaday ran an article </a>where someone had embossed some stuff using a 3d print to act as the embossing stamp... Intrigued I thought I would give it a go.<br /><br />So it works! I printed the small rocket in PLA with 0.8mm walls and a 50% infill to make it really tough. I stuck it to a bit of scrap ply (would have been better on a thicker block of something more hardwood!) and then clamped it in a small vice to emboss this little notepad.<br /><br />It's worked well and I'll see how long or if the embossed logo fades out or decompresses over the next few weeks. I think next time I will dig out the arbor press as it would be easier to align and I wouldn't be limited to putting the stamp at the edges of items! It's such good resolution that it actually shows the fine lines in the 3d print, so I should really CNC some aluminium stamps to do this properly!<br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-40378276093405134122018-11-26T06:05:00.002-08:002018-11-26T06:05:21.750-08:00INSPACE 3, Satnogs, Wales Aerospace and SDR radios<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJBuFkzGEyI/W_v5t7IfyEI/AAAAAAAACG8/g5ioeTDrUY4pm64SwwBHSsvoPyZLsKD5ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_214626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJBuFkzGEyI/W_v5t7IfyEI/AAAAAAAACG8/g5ioeTDrUY4pm64SwwBHSsvoPyZLsKD5ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_214626.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBDrWo4NIb4/W_v5d4eTTYI/AAAAAAAACGk/aTNXIxoQdscT9LjZW6vqXU5c4DiSYXwiQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_182404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBDrWo4NIb4/W_v5d4eTTYI/AAAAAAAACGk/aTNXIxoQdscT9LjZW6vqXU5c4DiSYXwiQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_182404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECjWoQTmbLM/W_v5eXDC5GI/AAAAAAAACGs/4oxdho3lR6UUWvTiPekCLHfwuln1Y_g5QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_195407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECjWoQTmbLM/W_v5eXDC5GI/AAAAAAAACGs/4oxdho3lR6UUWvTiPekCLHfwuln1Y_g5QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_195407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Last week I ran the 3rd event in my INSPACE series of events which have all been hosted by North Wales Technology (<a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2017/08/inspace-one-3rd-aug-2017.html">INSPACE ONE HERE</a> , <a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2017/12/inspace-two-30112017.html">INSPACE TWO HERE!</a>). This INSPACE theme was Software Defined Radios (SDR) and the event was split into 2 main sections. I started the evening with a presentation about the<a href="https://libre.space/"> Libre Space Foundation</a>&nbsp;(LSF) and in particular the<a href="https://satnogs.org/"> SatNOGS&nbsp;</a> project which is a global networked system of opensource satellite ground stations. I wanted to tell the story to the INSPACE audience for a couple of reasons. The main reason is I think it is an inspiring story how LSF have bootstrapped a plethora of space technologies, missions and projects in a unique way, not just opensource, but also outside of military and defence development methodologies. The second reason is that I had negotiated some sponsorship from&nbsp; <a href="http://www.aerospacewalesforum.com/">Aerospace Wales Forum</a> to not only sponsor the INSPACE 3 event with pizza and drinks but also to sponsor a project to deliver the required hardware for a SatNOGs ground station install on one of&nbsp; Bangor Universities buildings. Its excellent that they supported this project idea and also excellent that they came over to this event and support it on the night.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EChRhs647F0/W_v5d2dmyeI/AAAAAAAACGo/BmKtU98Z4RovbCemvDVf7Q7A7gdd9GMmQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_195516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EChRhs647F0/W_v5d2dmyeI/AAAAAAAACGo/BmKtU98Z4RovbCemvDVf7Q7A7gdd9GMmQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_195516.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And what a night we had, after my talk about LSF and SatNOGs we heard from Richard who works for <a href="http://www.glyndwrinnovations.co.uk/">Glyndwr Innovations</a> who told us about the varied payload development projects there are at the St Asaph Optical cluster and also about the high end engineering systems that are hosted within Glyndwr's campus. He went on to describe a recent program Glyndwr innovations ran to deliver some small funding grants to local startups for research and or engineering/validation with the funding coming from the UK space agency. It's excellent to see that there are organisations working to bringing this funding into North Wales to develop the space industry ecosystem here.<br /><br />After some pizza networking the 2nd half of the evening was in the capable hands of Luke and Chris who hosted and informal workshop getting everyone started with RTL SDR's. These are a cheap USB dongle originally designed for use as digital TV receivers for laptops but they actually contain a very capable software defined radio receiver and as can be used for lots of radio usage (and indeed they underpin the whole of the SatNOGs ecosystem so it maintained the subject for the evening)!.<br /><br />By the time we had finished everyone who wanted to had installed and got up and running with a SDR dongle on a variety of platforms, of course windows and linux and mac but also a few people used them with their android phones etc. We had some attempts at trying to hear a satellite outside the venue but with not perhaps the best antenna or indeed the best passes of satellites success was limited, we did mange to get an ADSB setup running and see some aeroplane transponders... but the cold quickly beat us back inside!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8yVRZqVcAc/W_v5s0ulnqI/AAAAAAAACG0/TiyzFzOezxQvxtkeTs6wUEdSdWJr_WhVwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_212833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8yVRZqVcAc/W_v5s0ulnqI/AAAAAAAACG0/TiyzFzOezxQvxtkeTs6wUEdSdWJr_WhVwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_212833.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />We finished the evening with Chris transmitting some SSTV Images... including the North Wales Tech logo and the attendees capturing and decoding the images, fabulous fun and I want to extend massive thanks to Chris and Luke for their help in running what I feel was another successful INSPACE event! Finally massive thanks also need to go to Carwyn from NW Tech who puts in astonishing amounts of work for the cause, <a href="https://tickets.pontio.co.uk/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&amp;BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=9642A22E-E0E8-4E63-800A-568C448215A8">Arleosi Pontio Innovation </a>for once again hosting the event in their co-work space and Wales Aerospace Forum for the aforementioned sponsorship.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJBuFkzGEyI/W_v5t7IfyEI/AAAAAAAACG8/g5ioeTDrUY4pm64SwwBHSsvoPyZLsKD5ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181121_214626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJBuFkzGEyI/W_v5t7IfyEI/AAAAAAAACG8/g5ioeTDrUY4pm64SwwBHSsvoPyZLsKD5ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181121_214626.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-52786227477718464092018-11-08T11:31:00.000-08:002018-11-08T11:31:23.802-08:00New venture! Podcasting!<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.podomatic.com/embed/html5/podcast/5858534?style=small&amp;autoplay=false" style="height: 208px; width: 504px;"></iframe> <br /><br />So yes... I've considered setting up a podcast for years and never got round to it... but just decided to go for it! Here is the first test episode with random sung intro music and a 5 minute anecdote... hopefully more to come! All suggestions and comments welcome.jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-17220177673509366692018-11-07T04:49:00.001-08:002018-11-07T04:49:13.654-08:00Quick make! Making boxes useful with a 3d printer!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDtnrQjBWjM/W-Lee0cgKZI/AAAAAAAACFI/gXMf444hyTIafYCbohi9bT4-C6SqcoHNgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181107_123943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDtnrQjBWjM/W-Lee0cgKZI/AAAAAAAACFI/gXMf444hyTIafYCbohi9bT4-C6SqcoHNgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181107_123943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCRtvolgF6Q/W-LeeKbSywI/AAAAAAAACFA/FUnynY5CevopgHKltlw1lnoBln567k3gQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181107_124037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pCRtvolgF6Q/W-LeeKbSywI/AAAAAAAACFA/FUnynY5CevopgHKltlw1lnoBln567k3gQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181107_124037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Aaaaaages ago my dad gave me a huge box full of these small 'raaco' stacking boxes that had been chucked out of a business somewhere and had been given to him. I have used a few on my workbench loose and they make really useful project boxes for holding small parts as I am working on something, or I've used them to sort electronic components when doing batch assembly. They also stack well but they don't have lid and I don't have a case for them which limits their use a bit. I keep contemplating making a larger box for them to stack into but then I had this little idea to 3d print some lids with holes for some cord, I can now fasten and transport them whilst keeping every thing safely inside making them much more useful! Using a bit of cord and a drawstring toggle means that the lid can close different multiples of boxes.<br /><br />Also whilst I am here.. someone got in touch the other week and asked to make a donation to me as he had been inspired by a post on here! That was very cool and humbling, so in case anyone else wants to buy me a coffee I've added a donate button to the blog! Feel free to use it!jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-42809091007113928272018-10-30T12:53:00.003-07:002018-10-30T12:53:44.876-07:00Proud to have a rocket article in Hackspace magazine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFK5a03SAp4/W9i0GSRUkTI/AAAAAAAACEY/YGIEOUMG0nkzpWsamGI9V4ONpFXpCLYQACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181030_192755%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PFK5a03SAp4/W9i0GSRUkTI/AAAAAAAACEY/YGIEOUMG0nkzpWsamGI9V4ONpFXpCLYQACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181030_192755%257E2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />Rather wonderfully a couple of months this back the mighty <a href="https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/">Hackspace magazine </a>visited <a href="https://www.midlandrocketry.org.uk/">Midland Rocketry Clubs</a> "Midland Sky" event and flew a couple of their own model rockets and met and chatted with everyone there. They explained they wanted to run some rocketry features in an upcoming issue... And indeed the have in issue 12. It's not all rockets but there's a good chunk of rocket articles in there covering model rocket 101, interviews with the mighty thrust vectoring<a href="https://bps.space/"> Joe Barnard/BPS</a> space and also an article by yours truly! Based on a document I wrote up off the back of my rocket design workshops my article takes people through designing and simulating a rocket using the <a href="http://openrocket.info/">Openrocket</a> software. Really pleased to be included and hope it helps bring a few new people to look at rocketry. You can download a free pdf of Hackspace magazine via the website but can also order a print copy which also can be found in all good magazine stockists!&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ob6yq6q1jlI/W9i0GvsHEhI/AAAAAAAACEc/FWLqSJyFxao3gajDtUd5lgmYShV21cjYACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181030_192807%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ob6yq6q1jlI/W9i0GvsHEhI/AAAAAAAACEc/FWLqSJyFxao3gajDtUd5lgmYShV21cjYACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181030_192807%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-15032362488057148072018-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:002018-10-27T11:14:29.690-07:00Scratch built 29mm rocket anchor point (Or why do things the easy way!)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZwk51h8Wqg/W9Sm5ID2OjI/AAAAAAAACD0/aLErQ5soLco8l760rEWt1So0w_KwMao4wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181027_185453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZwk51h8Wqg/W9Sm5ID2OjI/AAAAAAAACD0/aLErQ5soLco8l760rEWt1So0w_KwMao4wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181027_185453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtPRpVXwgPg/W9Sm5cNTFHI/AAAAAAAACD4/JLaQTtyP5bId9DBIohLt3EnNKop6ZaRXgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181027_185501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtPRpVXwgPg/W9Sm5cNTFHI/AAAAAAAACD4/JLaQTtyP5bId9DBIohLt3EnNKop6ZaRXgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181027_185501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>So I am working on a design for a minimum diameter 29mm rocket air-frame which means that the motor directly fits into the complete internal diameter of the rocket with no space around it. Common practice with larger rockets is to use an internal motor mount tube mounted in some centring rings, the fore centring ring usually is where the builder will place an eyelet or lifting bolt that will be the anchor for the recovery system/parachutes etc.<br /><br />Obviously without this centring ring you need to come up with a different solution. I want to have the option of using the motor ejection charge so needed something that gases can expand through but also it needs to be strong. I recently picked up 2nd hand an aluminium anchor point for a larger 38mm air-frame off another rocket builder via Facebook and a discussion followed about how with a smooth metal outer finish it was difficult to get them to adhere/epoxy to the inside of an air-frame. So my idea was to make a similar anchor point to receive a lifting eye but to make it slightly under size and then knurl it to be a better fit and to maximise the keying surface for when it is epoxied into the air frame tube. The knurling is pretty badly done and definitely not decorative but it is definitely going to allow a small amount of epoxy to create the strong bond needed.<br /><br />So why the "Why do things the easy way" bit... Well... after a search of the material/scrap pile I didn't have a piece of aluminium of large enough diameter to make this component. So I have done it the hard way! I started of making a very crude casting from some melted aluminium! With my very dinky little kiln!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAOuISNd86k/W9SkfuT2unI/AAAAAAAACC8/Y_FK2E4m60YbRK2qIc2W-VRYoobGwz_DQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181024_145322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAOuISNd86k/W9SkfuT2unI/AAAAAAAACC8/Y_FK2E4m60YbRK2qIc2W-VRYoobGwz_DQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181024_145322.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vmmf9MBh-I/W9SkjB0BA0I/AAAAAAAACDA/lWE6jxmAPsER1ElG5KJz9a5roZmru5-JwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181024_145225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vmmf9MBh-I/W9SkjB0BA0I/AAAAAAAACDA/lWE6jxmAPsER1ElG5KJz9a5roZmru5-JwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181024_145225.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I then poured the melt into a crude mould made from some of my diy casting sand (silica play sand and bentonite clay sourced from cat litter (unused... I a NOT that much of a cheapskate!)<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZGz-oI4wiA/W9SkemJ8u4I/AAAAAAAACC4/Ka1DSqz8ffQVvapahbXgFifTwS3RCbd2wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181024_150037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZGz-oI4wiA/W9SkemJ8u4I/AAAAAAAACC4/Ka1DSqz8ffQVvapahbXgFifTwS3RCbd2wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181024_150037.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZGz-oI4wiA/W9SkemJ8u4I/AAAAAAAACC4/Ka1DSqz8ffQVvapahbXgFifTwS3RCbd2wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181024_150037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZGz-oI4wiA/W9SkemJ8u4I/AAAAAAAACC4/Ka1DSqz8ffQVvapahbXgFifTwS3RCbd2wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181024_150037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br /><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Tgg1KCWHYc/W9Sk0jKes7I/AAAAAAAACDQ/B-rSTvLaQ_0YjeneLvsMt3D-w-r1U6kHQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181024_154852.jpg" width="640" /><br /><br />The crude casting was then chucked up in the lathe (the cheap 2nd hand mini lathe I bought a while back) and turned to round.<br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nxLFt5fpxho/W9Sk0wLDlBI/AAAAAAAACDY/tyu6cu1IAHo2uw6QbaESZ_JnaC8QIVLBQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181026_183021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nxLFt5fpxho/W9Sk0wLDlBI/AAAAAAAACDY/tyu6cu1IAHo2uw6QbaESZ_JnaC8QIVLBQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181026_183021.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />I then realised none of the suitable boring tools I had actually fit in the toolpost of the mini lathe so I parted off the job and transferred it to my old faithful perfecto lathe and bored out the inside. Its somehow more pleasing when you really have made something from scratch!jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-87305735135162433202018-10-05T05:02:00.000-07:002018-10-05T05:02:20.628-07:00One Mix Yoga review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaJBoUsFLAo/W7dR3EUdRWI/AAAAAAAACB0/fcfKGCU4od0enHCl8T_Gj2iJq-b3hItNQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_160646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaJBoUsFLAo/W7dR3EUdRWI/AAAAAAAACB0/fcfKGCU4od0enHCl8T_Gj2iJq-b3hItNQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180924_160646.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />For many years I have been a fan of ultraportables... I owned (and still have) an original eee pc701 when they came out and I have owned a litany of PDA devices over the years and regular readers (a select group of amazing individuals) may recall I recently got Linux up and running on my linx1010b tablet.<br /><br />I'd lusted a lot after a gpd pocket when they were released last year but the lack of an SD slot put me off. I loved the form factor however and so when I saw the very similar One Mix Yoga which has an SD slot I decided to take the plunge. The final push was that it had a backlit keyboard... Great for a bit of late night browsing or indeed checking a rocket simulation in a tent at a rocketry meet!<br /><br />It's a great machine, preconfigured with Windows 10 it boots quickly and everything works. Mine had a stuck pixel on arrival but I am happy to report that it unstuck with some usage and has resolved. I'm not really a windows fan but do reluctantly use it occasionally so the plan was to try and get it dual booting windows and some flavour of Linux.<br /><br />I'd seen that a few things weren't working for people under Linux on the one mix yoga, most noticeably sound, so I was prepared for some issues. I was also prepared after my linx 1010 Linux experiences to have some screen orientation issues to resolve. I tried 3 or 4 Ubuntu flavoured distros before settling on the most recent version of Ubuntu Mate. Having tried lubuntu, xubuntu and vanilla Ubuntu I was struggling to get screen resolution correct (it's a pretty hi Res screen) and was therefore delighted to click the Hidpi option in Ubuntu mate which instantly resolved all my tiny icon/font/cursor issues. I found that I could make my screen orientation settings persist under Ubuntu mate and I quickly resolved and got screen brightness controls working. WiFi works and hibernation is good... But I still haven't found time to resolve getting sound working or indeed swapping the axis on the touchscreen... An issue I faced and resolved on the linx 1010b.<br /><br />So it's now setup to dual boot and this works well.. giving me an ultraportable linux box for doing bits of work on the go but I can also boot into windblows if I require a bit of surfing/media/youtube.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msJp8HJCJN0/W7dRQkGLfqI/AAAAAAAACBs/u65fqx23fR0lavEiekicrnG9-7BmioeZQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181005_125310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msJp8HJCJN0/W7dRQkGLfqI/AAAAAAAACBs/u65fqx23fR0lavEiekicrnG9-7BmioeZQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20181005_125310.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />It is amazingly portable... Fits into a cargo pants pocket easily and is pretty lightweight. Despite having a slightly slower processor than the gpd pocket I find it's fine for some libreoffice on the go or for a bit of Openrocket rocket design work. The reversible hinged screen makes it an excellent ereader and flipping the screen disables the keyboard which means you don't disturb your reading with random keypresses.<br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-21778790608142877732018-09-28T13:19:00.000-07:002018-09-28T13:19:37.370-07:00Open Source Cubesat Workshop 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9FCQ-2Mozw/W66J8fHfKqI/AAAAAAAAB_4/5B6mJ2rDidY9tr-cNU7WcNR3fWR46hoCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_133746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9FCQ-2Mozw/W66J8fHfKqI/AAAAAAAAB_4/5B6mJ2rDidY9tr-cNU7WcNR3fWR46hoCACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180924_133746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As Red would say "YES"!<br /><br />I had the pleasure of travelling to this years OSCW that was once again hosted at an European Space Agency campus ESAC the European Space Astronomy Centre just outside Madrid, Spain. I equally had the pleasure of staying with the<a href="https://libre.space/"> Libre Space Foundation </a>crew including some of the core team but also some of the global contributors.<br /><br />There is so much I could say about the talks and the event but I don't know how to summarise it all! So instead I will just say that the quality of presentation was great and it really is re affirming and heartening to see so many communities forming around the opensource development of space technologies. Staying with and meeting some of the wider Librespace contributors makes one feel part of something amazing and left me invigorated and wanting to contribute more. Here follows a small photo dump!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmr6ClL6riI/W66KaQu7P4I/AAAAAAAACAQ/S20LmTwViDgEy6X3zdtyh9dp1lJvOeWOwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_134348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmr6ClL6riI/W66KaQu7P4I/AAAAAAAACAQ/S20LmTwViDgEy6X3zdtyh9dp1lJvOeWOwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_134348.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YycOZjsLnP0/W66Kb8ex0II/AAAAAAAACAU/kuhs-cOpRr4BMjbwemFp15CswSnUAJ6QgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_134756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YycOZjsLnP0/W66Kb8ex0II/AAAAAAAACAU/kuhs-cOpRr4BMjbwemFp15CswSnUAJ6QgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_134756.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO1hb7-Bbjc/W66KUTiBLGI/AAAAAAAACAM/K5kvtB3pkrYu5HW-mEztwE4fCQzQVkNXwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_135211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO1hb7-Bbjc/W66KUTiBLGI/AAAAAAAACAM/K5kvtB3pkrYu5HW-mEztwE4fCQzQVkNXwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_135211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orgQCfSY1Uk/W66KngG3qNI/AAAAAAAACAc/nfZMZ9L-p4YMlIk1Q4sPIiTlT4r6st8ZgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_140751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orgQCfSY1Uk/W66KngG3qNI/AAAAAAAACAc/nfZMZ9L-p4YMlIk1Q4sPIiTlT4r6st8ZgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_140751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRkwYJKI-wQ/W66KqtA4WNI/AAAAAAAACAg/bI0PJcQLIMcE1cxjnmNOAEXoM72Dn9-kwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_162111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRkwYJKI-wQ/W66KqtA4WNI/AAAAAAAACAg/bI0PJcQLIMcE1cxjnmNOAEXoM72Dn9-kwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_162111.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOrOEaB9o-4/W66Kyaa2mNI/AAAAAAAACAo/4LgyB-gvDo4rCUpiVjlH3rAL7nsD6jAYQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_171853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOrOEaB9o-4/W66Kyaa2mNI/AAAAAAAACAo/4LgyB-gvDo4rCUpiVjlH3rAL7nsD6jAYQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_171853.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJSsODw3K3g/W66K61BEJkI/AAAAAAAACAs/vxOjnB3-5kYBftfzr20vx7-lJxlqSfPaACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_173140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJSsODw3K3g/W66K61BEJkI/AAAAAAAACAs/vxOjnB3-5kYBftfzr20vx7-lJxlqSfPaACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_173140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyoddHbO2Bc/W66K8aKAYjI/AAAAAAAACA0/epRxZLE28qsA77gJtaSh0dN-ouXiGMTfACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180925_095210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyoddHbO2Bc/W66K8aKAYjI/AAAAAAAACA0/epRxZLE28qsA77gJtaSh0dN-ouXiGMTfACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180925_095210.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCaf8yi4ghA/W66J-xcloPI/AAAAAAAAB_8/lzEzra7-o-0NJ6REMzFKH0uV0UMUUqc5ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_100753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCaf8yi4ghA/W66J-xcloPI/AAAAAAAAB_8/lzEzra7-o-0NJ6REMzFKH0uV0UMUUqc5ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_100753.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X6I834SFktE/W66LAr5cEaI/AAAAAAAACA4/38Rd6Ka_qEYYgayHBWctxyNobj7eDhLvACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180925_101611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X6I834SFktE/W66LAr5cEaI/AAAAAAAACA4/38Rd6Ka_qEYYgayHBWctxyNobj7eDhLvACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180925_101611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNS5vG_F3uE/W66J_RL_nAI/AAAAAAAACAA/EpCQKAX3wyQJNUPJ_83e1TaF5dmFyZq9gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180924_100926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNS5vG_F3uE/W66J_RL_nAI/AAAAAAAACAA/EpCQKAX3wyQJNUPJ_83e1TaF5dmFyZq9gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180924_100926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P4BoSlLjSVw/W66LGfmK97I/AAAAAAAACBA/zM4dqtuprC0L7qyq437p5DR01pOE0kG4gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180925_174804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P4BoSlLjSVw/W66LGfmK97I/AAAAAAAACBA/zM4dqtuprC0L7qyq437p5DR01pOE0kG4gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180925_174804.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-56971785750920646782018-09-21T09:46:00.000-07:002018-09-22T02:44:39.411-07:00ODR Flight!... and lots of learning!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in-pSag8bQc/W6UL3PTBqBI/AAAAAAAAB74/08JGoIgyErgX9wkrr9A5CC67Id-i4Q2_gCLcBGAs/s1600/4-IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-in-pSag8bQc/W6UL3PTBqBI/AAAAAAAAB74/08JGoIgyErgX9wkrr9A5CC67Id-i4Q2_gCLcBGAs/s400/4-IMG_0560.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credit Peter Barrett</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Midland Sky event held by the midland rocketry club last weekend where I finally got to fly the Open Development Rocket or ODR. In simulation I had it flying to 2900 feet and in real life it was a little heavier I felt it was going to fly a little lower as I thought the simulated design was at its optimal weight.. however I was incorrect and indeed it went higher! It shot off the pad on its 38mm Cesaroni H152 2 grain motor and went into a near perfect vertical flight up to an apogee of 3255'.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-QcL4Oc12E/W6UL60cxzDI/AAAAAAAAB78/V4BmEAcqTDo0zY6kedHZu_rYFDaUup1nQCLcBGAs/s1600/3-IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-QcL4Oc12E/W6UL60cxzDI/AAAAAAAAB78/V4BmEAcqTDo0zY6kedHZu_rYFDaUup1nQCLcBGAs/s400/3-IMG_0559.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credit Peter Barrett</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />It nosed over and deployed the drogue chute at apogee correctly and began to descend, it was supposed to fall back to 500' and then the quantum altimeter was supposed to blow the other charge to release the main chute. What actually happened was that at around 2000' it deployed the main early, I can tell it happened here from the change in steepness of the decent rate on the graph output from the altimeter. I don't think that this was when it fired the main ejection charge but rather the nosecone was shaken off and it dragged the main out. It does highlight an area of ODR that needs a redesign - the upper section of ODR that contains the main chute is really too small. In an effort to get some space back I had reduced the shoulder of the nosecone and despite it being reasonably tight it came loose. Interestingly I had left the motor ejection charge in place and on its longest delay setting and based off the openrocket simulation I believe that this would have fired around the same time that the early main deployment occurred. Perhaps it produced a bit of an extra kick/movement to help dislodge the nosecone?<br /><br />&nbsp;The altimeter data states that the charge channels were fired at the right altitudes so I believe everything worked... but that I needed to design a bigger upper section and then have a better longer nosecone shoulder and retention. All good learning.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">So the result... well.. A LOOOOOONG walk! ODR drifted a long way with its 152 second long flight and I did fear that it was lost! That said we had a good line on where it lay and a fantastic recovery operation was performed. All round nice chap Stuart Livings jumped in my scruffy car and we drove as far as we could towards ODR. Parking in a farmyard we then set out on foot to get ourselves on the line/bearing we thought ODR lay on, Stuart then used his drone with FPV to fly out on the line and he quickly discovered ODR apparently having made a good landing some distance ahead. He kept the drone locked above ODR and that gave me an easy heading to walk to and recover her! Many thanks Stuart. So I definitely take some learning from this but overall I am pretty pleased, I definitely feel that this was a positive failure mode, meaning that if you are going to fail its better to fail where the results are a slower descent rather than a faster descent that's close by!</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0yncnx5uOw/W6UMJep_EcI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r_cQKnQEEuMjHR7H_mD724WPQRfHQ0v0wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180915_134512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0yncnx5uOw/W6UMJep_EcI/AAAAAAAAB8I/r_cQKnQEEuMjHR7H_mD724WPQRfHQ0v0wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180915_134512.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-65417904661082963512018-09-02T13:09:00.000-07:002018-09-02T13:09:00.409-07:00ODR Rocket deployment groundtests<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/287915501" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> Got a bit of time this afternoon to do some ground tests of the deployment system of the ODR opensource rocket. Its my first dual deploy rocket so I'm learning lots as I go. One thing I definitely discovered is its quite tight in the upper section where I plan to fly the main chute...I was using some quite thick webbing as the recovery bridle which I might replace with some thinner kevlar to try and reduce the volume of stuff I need to cram in there... failing that I could always reverse the roles of the sections and fly the main chute in the lower section of the airframe. For more details of the ODR opensource rocket <a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2018/07/odr-open-development-rocket-now.html">check out this post.</a>jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-39471690752619063072018-08-13T12:41:00.002-07:002018-08-13T12:41:52.768-07:00Making Drogue and Main parachutes... aka SEWING IS HARD!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_xg8INZa7w/W3Hax_IaRBI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/v-eS-KSwD5YYUVEfLopkEePlZpzK1zPWACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180811_142229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_xg8INZa7w/W3Hax_IaRBI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/v-eS-KSwD5YYUVEfLopkEePlZpzK1zPWACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180811_142229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm trying to get <a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2018/07/odr-open-development-rocket-now.html">the ODR rocket</a> build finished and am finalising the electronics bay for dual deployment where it will blow a charge and release a tiny drogue parachute at apogee and then deploy another charge to push out the main chute at a predetermined altitude on the way down.<br /><br />I wanted to use a crossform parachute after all the work I put in working through the maths of them (<a href="https://gitlab.com/concreted0g/crossform_parachutes">paper and calculator spreadsheet here</a>) and as ever I wanted to make them myself...although 5 hours in on the sewing machine I began to question why!<br /><br />For my <a href="https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2017/09/level-1-rocket-certification-achieved.html">Panta Rhei</a> flight I used a reasonably heavy ripstop nylon and I cut it with a soldering iron which gave an excellent edge that required no hemming, however this wasn't suitable for the job for the ODR rocket. I needed to consider packed sizes of the chutes as ODR is a slim rocket with not masses of room in either section for the recovery system. As such I wanted to use some very lightweight ripstop nylon I have as it would pack much smaller, however I also needed it to be strong as with dual deployment the main chute is deployed when the broken air-frame is falling at some speed. I designed the drogue to bring the falling air-frame down at about 20 meters per second as I had seen similar fall rates on online that others had used. The main is designed to further drop the descent rate to around 5 meters per second which is quite a large change in velocity so it needs to be pretty strong.<br /><br />I decided that I would cut the nylon traditionally and then stitch a double hem to add strength to all the edges. I first used baking paper to cut an over size pattern and then cut the rectangle sections and pinned the hems. This was essentially the same process for the tiny drogue and for the main. I made 2 rectangles and then pinned and stitched them together to form the cross. The sewing machine I borrowed of my daughter is an excellent albeit small machine and it didn't have the clout to stitch through the 2mm nylon cord I was using for shroud lines so they are hand stitched onto the drogue. For the main chute I wanted to reinforce the area that the shroud lines attached to on the chute and attached some small squares of ripstop into each corner, this took ages to do as I hemmed the squares first and then attached them but it should hopefully increase the chances of the chute surviving deployment!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTYiCFwsuPY/W3Haq2iJAYI/AAAAAAAAB3M/VenBSNzBcq0v7hkqZbKXx5emDteU3XvkgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180812_160904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTYiCFwsuPY/W3Haq2iJAYI/AAAAAAAAB3M/VenBSNzBcq0v7hkqZbKXx5emDteU3XvkgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180812_160904.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTQ2WxET_Ys/W3HanuCKIaI/AAAAAAAAB3I/LPnX8TQHaBgN1ICiBj_HSG02xdHUeIVKQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180812_162113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTQ2WxET_Ys/W3HanuCKIaI/AAAAAAAAB3I/LPnX8TQHaBgN1ICiBj_HSG02xdHUeIVKQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180812_162113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />If I had access to a more capable machine and also had more room in the air-frame and could overbuild the chutes slightly I would definitely consider making the lines continue all the way through the chute to make a very strong version.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvVLsJSsniM/W3Ha73w-kEI/AAAAAAAAB3g/yJ-vm1SaAywqGfKutU_g1gtNaNAE8ad4gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20180813_192351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KvVLsJSsniM/W3Ha73w-kEI/AAAAAAAAB3g/yJ-vm1SaAywqGfKutU_g1gtNaNAE8ad4gCPcBGAYYCw/s400/IMG_20180813_192351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I've not quite finished yet and have to fit the shroud lines to the main but I've finished the shroud lines on the drogue chute and am pleased with the way I have worked out to terminate the attachment end. I first measure out the desired length (1.6 times the length of the rectangle side from the calculations which equalled 56cm) and then stitched the lines together. I then individually stitched a matching length loop into the end of each of the 8 shrouds and then I stitched the 8 shrouds together and finally with the aid of a bit of stitching and a few drops of superglue I wrapped all the shroud ends in some thick polyester thread. Very pleased and I will use the same technique with the shrouds on the main.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Finally .. whilst I had my daughters small sewing machine set up I stitched some small Nomex fireproof blankets to protect the parachutes from the deployment charges. I definitely rushed these through and they are rough but functional!..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLakQP1hFcg/W3Ha7yRZIoI/AAAAAAAAB3U/sfi6rcK9D5QXdITeKNi6SqnYCFzY2ubyQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180813_200638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLakQP1hFcg/W3Ha7yRZIoI/AAAAAAAAB3U/sfi6rcK9D5QXdITeKNi6SqnYCFzY2ubyQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180813_200638.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there we go, learnt loads and got to grips with the small sewing machine... I could definitely do with continuing a bit of sewing to increase my skill at it!</div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-23480925740684052052018-07-24T11:21:00.004-07:002018-07-24T11:21:56.309-07:00Screwdrivers, Allen keys and nut spinners.....My current kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbjNGk9qT8/W1dpH6CQm6I/AAAAAAAAB2E/qOPunc2FDOgisEIBcZMx5iL_wbInZTeRACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180724_185400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXbjNGk9qT8/W1dpH6CQm6I/AAAAAAAAB2E/qOPunc2FDOgisEIBcZMx5iL_wbInZTeRACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180724_185400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So even for me this is a geeky post! I wanted to share this current collection of tools which I am very pleased with and its covering most of my maker needs for screwdrivers, nuts and bolt driving and more. I have stacked of other larger drivers and kit but this seems at the moment to really hit the spot and cover a lot of bases in my day to day making of electronics and rockets and also maintaining my 3d printers and CNC's. So above from right to left is my Wera Tool Check Plus, my Xiaomi/Wiha 24 in 1 driver kit, my Sealey STM103 torque screwdriver and then a 1/4" to 4mm adaptor and finally a set of 4mm sockets rangeing from 2.5mm to 5.5mm. The Wera Tool Check Plus is a pricey but glorious bit of kit, the mini zyklop wrench included is a joy to use with its tiny degree ratchet and small size making it great for reaching and working inside tight assemblies. There are loads of reviews about the Wera Tool Check online so check em out!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v06Bny7qGaY/W1dpHncgDDI/AAAAAAAAB2A/LRSIQ0enp44tPNgDzs3pCy7eznlUErqxQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180724_185432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v06Bny7qGaY/W1dpHncgDDI/AAAAAAAAB2A/LRSIQ0enp44tPNgDzs3pCy7eznlUErqxQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180724_185432.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Xiaomi/Wiha 24 in 1 kit is a little gem... Wiha are a great German tool brand and apparently they loved what xiaomi were doing and partnered with them to make this set. Its definitely aimed at small electronics and phone assembly/dissasembly (makes sense in terms of the Xiaomi connection) but contains a range of mini torx, as well as allen, posidrive and other 4mm tools. Its available on lots of chinese retailers like banggood and fasttech etc and it is definitely worth the (not masses) of money. The driver handle has a spinning head to allow one handed use and is smooth and comfortable and oozes quality. The magnetic tray and the metal box all work flawlessly and make you (well me) want to keep it all in order! (rare for me!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJYhtwmiCLs/W1dpGo5m2SI/AAAAAAAAB18/vNZmylt8KjggYZubIjyNaL9zkEVVs5SzACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180724_185457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJYhtwmiCLs/W1dpGo5m2SI/AAAAAAAAB18/vNZmylt8KjggYZubIjyNaL9zkEVVs5SzACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180724_185457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the Sealey stm103 is a torque screwdriver that works by sensing the amount of torque you place on it.. it reads out the torque on the display, it has numerous modes and can read peak torque or, as I find more useful, you can define a desired torque and when the sensor detects you have reached it it will both bleep, buzz and also an LED lights. Its amazing that this can be bought for less than £35 and comes with a certificate of inspection and calibration etc. Very handy indeed. Finally the 1/4" to 4mm adaptor has been a great find and expands the repertoire of both the Tool Check and the Xiaomi/Wiha kit. Over the years I've had a few variable cheap multi driver 4mm kits and therefore have accumulated a few spares in that format.. including the small set of quite cheap and cheerful sockets... however at that scale and for low torque they continue to serve well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there we go... geeky post, but all this lives together most of the time as a little kit and I find it invaluable!</div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-46966196447396585492018-07-20T01:41:00.000-07:002018-07-20T10:21:13.016-07:00USB soldering iron hack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNEVCUPZ3KU/W1GdQfyhRGI/AAAAAAAAB1M/l6uQWS2yIykZyHplAladB6EqitXrkF-3gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180702_201411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNEVCUPZ3KU/W1GdQfyhRGI/AAAAAAAAB1M/l6uQWS2yIykZyHplAladB6EqitXrkF-3gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180702_201411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Been a big fan of these cheap and cheerful USB soldering irons since discovering them via <a href="https://bigl.es/">@biglesp</a> ... There's a couple of things with them, the first one is the well known fact that it's best to run them off a USB battery pack as otherwise they present a bit of current at the tip. This leads to the second thing that bugged me and I fixed! So the iron is designed to only heat the tip when the user has it in their hand..&nbsp; it achieves this with a touch switch and also a motion detection system. The trouble is is that my USB power bank auto switches the power on and off when it detects a draw at the socket. This meant that I could plug the iron in and use it but if I put the iron on the stand and it timed out it would turn off but also wouldn't wake the USB supply when I retouched/moved the iron meaning I would have to pull the USB cable out and reinsert. So... I have modified it to be permanently on. The instructions are pretty straightforward..&nbsp; remove the yellow wire to the touch switch that you can see in the top picture and then also remove the silver tube component (a small tube with a soft spring inside which acts as the movement detection switch). Finally you then need to bridge the 2 pads to close where the silver tube switch would have been (see picture below). Now your USB iron is always on!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQV7mq1X14k/W1GdWTwxevI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/5heQXe-bXfI6hsGdeONkQEAmRK6OFBEegCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180702_202126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQV7mq1X14k/W1GdWTwxevI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/5heQXe-bXfI6hsGdeONkQEAmRK6OFBEegCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20180702_202126.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-70659979221586926132018-07-08T12:18:00.000-07:002018-07-08T12:18:52.343-07:00Open Boat Tail rocket... Maiden flight!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1138" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/278937509" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/278937509">OBT_maiden_7July18</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user389272">concretedog</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /><br />Ardent readers of this blog (all 6 of you!!) will recall a while back I designed and built a small rocket with a boat tail and I finally got chance to fly it at a family and friends BBQ last night. It flew really well on a classic Estes B6-4 motor. It was a really still evening but (even though I flew a pretty tiny parachute) it still managed to end up drifting the wrong way and landing in a thicket in a bog! After much rummaging however the rocket was recovered successfully!<br /><br />I'd designed it with around 5 grams of mass in the payload section and as it was a maiden flight I didn't fancy sticking a pricey altimeter in it so a willing volunteer was found in one of my European Space Agency lego minifigs!<br /><br />If you fancy building or improving on my design, <a href="https://github.com/concretedog/OBT_Open_Boat_Tail_Rocket">it's all opensource and available here.&nbsp;</a> <br /><br />Thanks to Rob for shooting this video on his phone!<br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-50151688612059498782018-07-06T13:40:00.001-07:002018-07-06T13:40:38.836-07:00ODR, Open Development Rocket. Now Opensource!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va4KVdkYhi0/Wz_P1M5sZwI/AAAAAAAABzg/JkuJ9MZuFikaIDqKhRJD8Oz3DFwtWTx9ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180705_205313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va4KVdkYhi0/Wz_P1M5sZwI/AAAAAAAABzg/JkuJ9MZuFikaIDqKhRJD8Oz3DFwtWTx9ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180705_205313.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here it is! Some of you who follow me on twitter may have seen me talking about this rocket build but this is the official release of the project. A while back I released the OBT small rocket design and this is the next opensource rocket ODR. ODR is either pronounced "owther" and is the mystical Norse force or could be O.D.R standing for Open Development Rocket!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ODR started as a project for my needs, having passed my L1 high power certification I wanted to build an airframe that could fly well on L1 power but could also serve as a learning and testing platform. Therefore ODR has been designed with a large electronics/avionics bay and can be configured for single or for dual deploy recovery systems. Its simulated in <a href="http://openrocket.info/">OpenRocket</a> and can fly on G-I 38mm reloads and as soon as I actually fly it I will update the project.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are numerous sections I need to finish and some parts that need much better documentation but I have done some docs and have supplied all the files on Gitlab. The main tubes are phenolic tubes purchased in the UK from the excellent (I have no link with them other than am a customer) <a href="https://www.blackcatrocketry.co.uk/">Blackcat Rocketry</a>. All the other components are designed in opensource free software and the files are included. It has used CNC routing and a 3d printer but equally could be done with a printer and a laser cutter. So find your local makerspace/fablab etc.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://gitlab.com/concreted0g/ODR">Here is the ODR repository</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So get in touch via Gitlab and or twitter @concreted0g if you have questions and I'll try my best to help. And yeah... that's a <a href="https://libre.space/">librespace foundation</a> sticker... lets claim space.. the libre way.&nbsp;</div>jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-16330349684342793982018-06-12T07:13:00.000-07:002018-06-12T07:13:51.698-07:00A Visit to Hack Oldham!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-011hNgV1mvk/Wx_MxB8LK1I/AAAAAAAABwo/gUpOsJjF80Y1xkGaVhjSO9XQMF8XeUp_wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_142853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-011hNgV1mvk/Wx_MxB8LK1I/AAAAAAAABwo/gUpOsJjF80Y1xkGaVhjSO9XQMF8XeUp_wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_142853.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />It's ages since I did a "I visited a cool hack/maker space" post so very pleased to say I got to go visit the fantastic <a href="https://hackoldham.com/">Hack Oldham</a> as part of my work with<a href="https://www.indycube.community/"> Indycube</a> last week. A great visit where we swapped stories from the trenches of co-working, community development and making! Its a fantastic multifaceted space with lots of room and some stunning kit. Massive thanks to the mighty Andy ( <a href="https://twitter.com/p0welly?lang=en">@p0welly</a> ) and Lisa (<a href="https://twitter.com/StudioG_Oldham?lang=en"> @StudioG_Oldham</a> ) and Keiran ( <a href="https://twitter.com/Keiranwdigital?lang=en">@Keiranwdigital</a> ) for showing me round and taking time to talk! If you are around Oldham and need somewhere to work or make or both... get in there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jI2U_mSN5jo/Wx_Qp7Ab-GI/AAAAAAAAByM/mXNfTSKQfyMQtfAqKECTq5C9SIRzzvwhACLcBGAs/s1600/hackoldhammainroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jI2U_mSN5jo/Wx_Qp7Ab-GI/AAAAAAAAByM/mXNfTSKQfyMQtfAqKECTq5C9SIRzzvwhACLcBGAs/s640/hackoldhammainroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So above is the main space on the ground floor, bright and cheerful and really useful and reconfigurable. A great place to co-work and a decent sized event space.&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tNuL-_zP3w/Wx_MsUyP4CI/AAAAAAAABwk/S7i0HKHCR-I1adUCflnr2UcwfAnhGtLugCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_142832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tNuL-_zP3w/Wx_MsUyP4CI/AAAAAAAABwk/S7i0HKHCR-I1adUCflnr2UcwfAnhGtLugCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_142832.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The geek bar and behind it storage for regular users of the space.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JcvhjNQ8KcE/Wx_Mr9pwbBI/AAAAAAAABwg/A2uf3Nowurk2IYDUfarv-ZJl2Z7OpGrCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JcvhjNQ8KcE/Wx_Mr9pwbBI/AAAAAAAABwg/A2uf3Nowurk2IYDUfarv-ZJl2Z7OpGrCACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still on the ground floor here is the permanent full time residents area&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkUTepc3bh8/Wx_M953LgTI/AAAAAAAABw0/bJBwvb7in20I60klOLWzn3zU0ZFvh314QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkUTepc3bh8/Wx_M953LgTI/AAAAAAAABw0/bJBwvb7in20I60klOLWzn3zU0ZFvh314QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's a fab prize!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEe5jxI8DDg/Wx_M84jpBzI/AAAAAAAABww/a4hPN2s6GiwSKAqcx8H4WEnYrNGvcssgwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEe5jxI8DDg/Wx_M84jpBzI/AAAAAAAABww/a4hPN2s6GiwSKAqcx8H4WEnYrNGvcssgwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So.. moving into the labyrinth of basement rooms where the fab kit lurks its good to see good old rule zero in effect!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceZqgpT-HbU/Wx_NCdZPyMI/AAAAAAAABw8/N7ZcXJvYp9s36DIWjk-hNBq-WHoMh6NJwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceZqgpT-HbU/Wx_NCdZPyMI/AAAAAAAABw8/N7ZcXJvYp9s36DIWjk-hNBq-WHoMh6NJwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Into one of the maker spaces, some fine woodwork tools to be seen. They had a great system where they had all tools on mounting boards with a uniform bolt spacing so that the tools could be reconfigured/moved and yet alow people to follow health and safety requirements for a minimum distance between tools. A great solution.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mnYWoegbjWU/Wx_NS0Z49II/AAAAAAAABxQ/5IyOWbuXENIuj2B8bDyjY8FEOFFsjqEmQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mnYWoegbjWU/Wx_NS0Z49II/AAAAAAAABxQ/5IyOWbuXENIuj2B8bDyjY8FEOFFsjqEmQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-189jIkhtbO4/Wx_NRrZO2nI/AAAAAAAABxI/-EAwtdwBKAsUrkmzbsxDl5yM7-JqbKUZwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-189jIkhtbO4/Wx_NRrZO2nI/AAAAAAAABxI/-EAwtdwBKAsUrkmzbsxDl5yM7-JqbKUZwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143305.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;LOVELY old Myford in good order. They had recently converted it to single phase... Great to see machining tools get some space in maker spaces.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDRRTosrzL8/Wx_NTKc6PDI/AAAAAAAABxU/ujo8JDjEL1EwXGTubpUjA7GL-V3KhTnAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDRRTosrzL8/Wx_NTKc6PDI/AAAAAAAABxU/ujo8JDjEL1EwXGTubpUjA7GL-V3KhTnAgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;The electronics lab bench area with a good range of kit available and also a fab honesty box system for commonly used components below.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0c9oeiGR70/Wx_NiQuPsLI/AAAAAAAABxY/Nr2mfR5vZz82meJ-5HoYUj79jYcDL8tpgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0c9oeiGR70/Wx_NiQuPsLI/AAAAAAAABxY/Nr2mfR5vZz82meJ-5HoYUj79jYcDL8tpgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KwDnP0bGfM/Wx_Ni5SaCKI/AAAAAAAABxg/w8F8YNoOYQQFNCIqp92KNKiRKyyqpBbvwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KwDnP0bGfM/Wx_Ni5SaCKI/AAAAAAAABxg/w8F8YNoOYQQFNCIqp92KNKiRKyyqpBbvwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143341.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Lasers and vinyl cutters.. classic tools for maker/hackspaces!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPP_L3IjxPM/Wx_Njmvc5RI/AAAAAAAABxk/R7HnEdS-bzMoN5PtiV_jsFvmvkSs6A84ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPP_L3IjxPM/Wx_Njmvc5RI/AAAAAAAABxk/R7HnEdS-bzMoN5PtiV_jsFvmvkSs6A84ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dMaRCT7ZbB0/Wx_N0FUrkSI/AAAAAAAABx0/OGWnM5bbOJYp_QQKAEzg4iEd33MUWZbggCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dMaRCT7ZbB0/Wx_N0FUrkSI/AAAAAAAABx0/OGWnM5bbOJYp_QQKAEzg4iEd33MUWZbggCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143425.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More bits and bobs...&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLJ2ELEkfTg/Wx_Nzv9aEII/AAAAAAAABxs/3MnXus_PHDwOH5Vjs85URN9Uz7JE7sgjgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLJ2ELEkfTg/Wx_Nzv9aEII/AAAAAAAABxs/3MnXus_PHDwOH5Vjs85URN9Uz7JE7sgjgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143622.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I think they knew about my vice addiction! Great set of record vices here!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAtoIEVOCcU/Wx_N06l04CI/AAAAAAAABx4/GgjizeZ35xQYuiW9ReoUsHQOFrpHeo4sACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180606_143939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAtoIEVOCcU/Wx_N06l04CI/AAAAAAAABx4/GgjizeZ35xQYuiW9ReoUsHQOFrpHeo4sACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180606_143939.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there we go.. a fantastic visit, hopefully I'll get to work with them in the future and get to go back and pester them again.. better not upset them though... they have Daleks!</div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-72732413719146020972018-06-04T13:45:00.002-07:002018-06-04T13:45:55.224-07:00OBT, Opensource Boat Tail Rocket project <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-5PcdfVXaQ/WxTaYRR-boI/AAAAAAAABvc/Z7aOwqrsWSQtXM5UYKGLWSl_Og-YjqvJQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180603_163023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-5PcdfVXaQ/WxTaYRR-boI/AAAAAAAABvc/Z7aOwqrsWSQtXM5UYKGLWSl_Og-YjqvJQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180603_163023.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Over the last week I've designed, simulated and then scratch built this little rocket with a boat tail. The boat tail is the small section below the fins which tapers to the minimum diameter of the motor mount. I wanted to learn about boat tails and make one as they are useful for a couple of reasons. There primary function is to smooth out the airflow and they create a lot less turbulence than a typical square ended rocket (there's a <a href="http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/474352.pdf">great PDF on boat tails here</a>). The second reason being that boat tails are often used when coupling a smaller rocket to a larger booster for example in boosted dart type projects or other multistage designs. This OBT (Open Boat Tail) rocket has a decent payload section and should be a useful addition to my rocket collection as I need to do some flying of the new nanoalt altimeter from <a href="https://theflametrench.com/">the flame trench</a> with other commercial altimeters to see how it compares.<br /><br />The OBT is made with some 3d printed components and I have CNC routed the fins out of 2mm balsa but that could easily be achieved with a craft knife! It uses classic estes tubing BT50 for the body and BT20 for the motor mount tube. All the supporting software I have used is opensource as indeed this design is so feel free to check out the repository. If you make one I would love to see it!<br /><br />All measurements can be got by opening the <a href="http://openrocket.info/">openrocket</a> file (.ork) and you can see the general placement of the parts..its a crude simulation really and could be dialled in a little more. Its worth noting the 3d printed parts are over ridden in the simulation with their actual mass and depending on your approach your components weight may differ. There is a pdf of rough instructions on the repository with some pictures (repeated here) that show the general assembly. All the STL files for the parts (centring ring, boat tail, nosecone etc) are provided, but they are scaled and tweaked for my printer and the shrinkage of my current PLA filament.. so they may need tweaking.&nbsp; I've generated these models in <a href="http://www.openscad.org/">OpenSCAD</a> and therefore if you download OpenSCAD (again free and opensource) you can tweak the dimensions to suit your printer. (hit me up if you need help on how to do that).<br /><br />So here it is... <a href="https://github.com/concretedog/OBT_Open_Boat_Tail_Rocket">all the files are on this repo</a><br /><br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-58890135514902535792018-05-22T12:52:00.005-07:002018-05-23T00:53:33.193-07:00New DIY Rocket Fin Jig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUvsoFfwBxY/WwRsbtDekFI/AAAAAAAABtk/DYpndnoD9noBNTCetf20F0OPsvbX8gJeACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_180835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUvsoFfwBxY/WwRsbtDekFI/AAAAAAAABtk/DYpndnoD9noBNTCetf20F0OPsvbX8gJeACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_180835.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;So wanted to make a more accurate and adaptable system for ensuring rocket fins go onto builds accurately and I've (after a few iterations) come up with this design. It uses some established ideas floating around the rocketry community that pertain to guillotine style jigs but I've made mine to be a little different in that it is baseless and doesn't need to be placed on a board. Also the lower support for the rocket body tube is adjustable to hold a range of diameters. As such this jig can accommodate a range from the smallest Estes bt5 tube at 13mm diameter to a maximum of 80mm. Hopefully the rest of this post explains a little bit about how I made it, why and how it is used.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CAjd43BPx8/WwRtIFQl0hI/AAAAAAAABuA/goByfGBaafMWyG9dfgBrYECetzLElX2bwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180514_162857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3CAjd43BPx8/WwRtIFQl0hI/AAAAAAAABuA/goByfGBaafMWyG9dfgBrYECetzLElX2bwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180514_162857.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The three plywood plates I designed in Inkscape and cut on my CNC router. The reason I went for a threaded bar design instead of a base is that the central plate can be moved within the rails and can therefore be used for very short rocket air frames or can be made to hold the body tube securely whilst avoiding a body tube anomaly such as a camera housing etc. Using threaded bars also gave me maximum adjust-ability and meant that I could assemble the jig with utmost care for parallelism and making everything square.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnKDnOtSrdM/WwRsW0x5H8I/AAAAAAAABtg/tnh8E1fFZmAfUm86NWmgHtbtymHRn_fpwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_180842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnKDnOtSrdM/WwRsW0x5H8I/AAAAAAAABtg/tnh8E1fFZmAfUm86NWmgHtbtymHRn_fpwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_180842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Looking underneath the fin holding aluminium rails the CNC'd wooden sections have the inverted V to receive a body tube. The point of the V aligns with 2 smaller V sections (seen at the top of this picture just beneath the aluminium angle rails.) this means a fin inserted into the small V is aligned with the centre of the body tube. You can also see in the above picture that there are some small holes and a shock cord passed through with some salvaged toggles to put a bit of tension on it. This shock cord can also be moved to a higher set of holes to support the range of body tubes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cVdjVHfVgPA/WwRslXDYriI/AAAAAAAABto/akqRFFff0MkYBME4g3tUYww2wv-lE6X6gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_180941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cVdjVHfVgPA/WwRslXDYriI/AAAAAAAABto/akqRFFff0MkYBME4g3tUYww2wv-lE6X6gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_180941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;So here is a larger body tube (around 56mm OD) being held in the jig<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYNHpmpUS3A/WwRs7FJPb_I/AAAAAAAABt0/GaRHFZsvdBEfx9-E_Z9k4RgBGlIgORDBwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_181419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYNHpmpUS3A/WwRs7FJPb_I/AAAAAAAABt0/GaRHFZsvdBEfx9-E_Z9k4RgBGlIgORDBwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_181419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;And above is a picture using the shorter setting and holding a smaller 24mm tube.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQtjklltPpU/WwRs847kDmI/AAAAAAAABt4/fvD2T2wvhUYadA2wj1RF914IZ9ooYIfogCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_181659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQtjklltPpU/WwRs847kDmI/AAAAAAAABt4/fvD2T2wvhUYadA2wj1RF914IZ9ooYIfogCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_181659.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Above is a shot showing the adjustable rails that can slide left to right and then be tightened into position. The position is accurately set by inserting a fin into the V section to centre it and also placing a spare fin or a spare piece of fin material at the far end of the jig into a matching central V slot. Then the jig rails can be tightened and after an alignment check the fin glued. Then the tube can be rotated and realigned without resetting the jig to attach the next fin. The fin setup can be seen below with a fin and some fin stock at each end of the adjustable rails.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rIovFqZyI3k/WwRs9WFYV6I/AAAAAAAABt8/DfhSgfV7zMwO5hrviGUmPoXSmC_k6i9_wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180522_181605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rIovFqZyI3k/WwRs9WFYV6I/AAAAAAAABt8/DfhSgfV7zMwO5hrviGUmPoXSmC_k6i9_wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180522_181605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>So there we go... hope it makes sense and feel free to ask any questions in the comments!jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-85651982563751104482018-05-07T03:51:00.000-07:002018-09-26T08:40:03.229-07:00Imp... my UK Rocket Altitude record!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKu4MFrGl8o/WvAnQGttVyI/AAAAAAAABsI/aXd89lanyTYGHDYQs-Eu6ykFBJulhrbHwCLcBGAs/s1600/UKRA_IMP_Record.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="1190" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKu4MFrGl8o/WvAnQGttVyI/AAAAAAAABsI/aXd89lanyTYGHDYQs-Eu6ykFBJulhrbHwCLcBGAs/s640/UKRA_IMP_Record.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;So.. Had a fab weekend. I travelled down to the mighty <a href="http://www.ears.org.uk/launches/bigears/index.shtml">BigEARS rocketry event</a> (another post on that later) and whilst I was there I finally got to launch my imp scratch built rocket and set a <a href="http://www.ukra.org.uk/records/allclass">new UK rocketry altitude record</a> in the A impulse class! The previous record was from 2013 and set at 143 metres and I am very happy to report and show that imp achieved 214 metres!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Jh6tZPh6fQ/WvAnBDESOZI/AAAAAAAABr8/up6_4OtTnJcnJJiNX1HwvjjUaGc2BcfIwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1017539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Jh6tZPh6fQ/WvAnBDESOZI/AAAAAAAABr8/up6_4OtTnJcnJJiNX1HwvjjUaGc2BcfIwCLcBGAs/s640/P1017539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So above is imp just prior to launch, I managed to nearly half the mass of this rocket&nbsp; compared to the previous record holders airframe. Imp weighed just under 18grams and this was achieved through some saving of weight due to the altimeter but also through my 3d printed transition and nosecone. I printed both these objects as a single filament line wall 0.4mm wide with no infill, I then sanded the outer surfaces smooth further reducing the wall thickness... the nosecone weighed less than half a gram!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cznY0bz9ZIQ/WvAnDnnBIwI/AAAAAAAABsA/ulQCAgGN7RAHBUJ3hk79PizTCBg5IMDTQCLcBGAs/s1600/P1017538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cznY0bz9ZIQ/WvAnDnnBIwI/AAAAAAAABsA/ulQCAgGN7RAHBUJ3hk79PizTCBg5IMDTQCLcBGAs/s640/P1017538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see I went for a standard rod deployment with a short standoff lug and there are certainly gains to be made if I did another attempt using piston ejection launch methods. I sanded down the estes tubing to reduce weight and also did a small bit of an attempt to aerofoil the thin balsa fins.. I now have some thin 0.8mm g10 fibreglass sheet in stock and would probably go with that as a fin material if I had another attempt!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qTk9qia-Ho/WvAnHuyNxyI/AAAAAAAABsE/oGoZ5BArXW4HWD2Df73a4Sb2jMPXREAbQCLcBGAs/s1600/P1017536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qTk9qia-Ho/WvAnHuyNxyI/AAAAAAAABsE/oGoZ5BArXW4HWD2Df73a4Sb2jMPXREAbQCLcBGAs/s640/P1017536.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I fiddled about on the pad for far to long getting it to sit right and at the height on the rod I wanted. Then returned to the control box and got the countdown from the very experienced range safety officer (RSO) Rod Stevenson. It leapt off the pad and shot away... it wasn't actually the most straight or vertical flight so, again, some gains to be had there. It deployed its small silver mylar streamer well and came down ok. Took quite a while to find the tiny airframe but me and my brilliant teammate Seren Hinchliffe searched and recovered it with payload section and airframe intact. We walked back to the RSO area, nervously opened the payload section and retrieved the altimeter... which was happily blinking so I knew it had logged ok! (Incidentally I followed the Perfectflite guidance diligently on the vent hole advice which resulted in 4 holes at 90 degrees at 0.8mm each around the altimeter bay).<br /><br />I gathered a legendary bunch of witnesses, Rod Stevenson, (EARS&nbsp; RSO), Charles Simpson (UKRA Chair) and Andy Mell (UKRA council) and a few others and we counted the blinks on the altimeter indicator led numerous times making sure we all agreed and had seen it (and I video'd the LED!). It reported 703 feet which converted to a shade over 214 metres... :) Job done! Massive thanks to the above and particularly Charles for nudging me along that morning to fly and also massive thanks to my team mate.. Seren who took photo's, carried stuff and helped massively in the search part of the flight!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FugH4whMlZg/WvAuKvAHmeI/AAAAAAAABsg/BxjjeEzJgcIGWZV6b3UIkfFpUNAxpVQUgCLcBGAs/s1600/jo_seren_imp_record.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FugH4whMlZg/WvAuKvAHmeI/AAAAAAAABsg/BxjjeEzJgcIGWZV6b3UIkfFpUNAxpVQUgCLcBGAs/s400/jo_seren_imp_record.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A happy, hot and been camping in a field scruffy record attempt team. x</div><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-2367234965125464002018-05-02T09:37:00.000-07:002018-05-02T09:37:34.961-07:00Toolmaking - Stud Clamps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zfg04zo4Ps/Wum6UrAqnAI/AAAAAAAABrk/4tWOby0_efkBx_dJHL40HQLKXKKNs8U7ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180429_124029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zfg04zo4Ps/Wum6UrAqnAI/AAAAAAAABrk/4tWOby0_efkBx_dJHL40HQLKXKKNs8U7ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180429_124029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />I love making little tools. I've been meaning to do this one for a while but I finally got round to it as I needed to do some work on an M4 threaded assembly. A few years ago I did an engineering operations qualification at night school and I had to make numerous different tools/jobs to finer and finer tolerances, one of the jobs was the larger stud clamp in this picture. Basically you cut and tap some hole for a range of threads (in the case of the larger one M6 to M12) and then cruelly are made to hand cut all the way through your work piece ( a test of nerve and skill on the course as it needed to conform to the specified tolerances!). The resulting object is very useful for a few different tasks... Primarily if you thread a bolt or threaded bar though a hole and then clamp it in a vice the cut section closes tightly around the threaded object and allows you to work on it/cut it etc with it held firmly and without any damage to the object. A secondary use is if you have a threaded stud stuck into something with little to grip onto to remove it (imagine a cylinder head stud for example) you can thread on the stud clamp and then clamp the cut end with a pair of mole grips and it creates a hug wrench to remove the stuck stud with.<br /><br />So it tends to be that M6 is the larger end of stuff I work on and therefore I decided to make a smaller version for the sizes M2, M3, M4 and M5, I used a little piece of en1a and again did the cut with a hacksaw... which is on the limit of being too wide for the M2 section but just left enough thread to form a precise clamp! I also chucked some drill bit gauge holes into the piece for the drill sizes needed to drill a hole to tap for M2,3,4.<br /><br />Its not to as high a standard as the larger one in many ways, but is functional and I do get a great sense of satisfaction out of making things like this... with a bit of care this tool should see reasonably regular use in my shop for the rest of my making days!jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8020589647029137450.post-88768068648695054822018-04-27T11:03:00.000-07:002018-04-27T11:19:02.407-07:00Linux on Linx1010b<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGexfPKQhJc/WuL7hW3wVuI/AAAAAAAABrA/a8UQvWepmW8-EBIwqjM78qA8WhqCAHh0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180426_194819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGexfPKQhJc/WuL7hW3wVuI/AAAAAAAABrA/a8UQvWepmW8-EBIwqjM78qA8WhqCAHh0QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180426_194819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Di_yKV51Eo/WuL7c1eqz8I/AAAAAAAABq8/dXDmb7z-eAQ3ZmmEAJBnNc9-3HIj9n3KwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20180426_194704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Di_yKV51Eo/WuL7c1eqz8I/AAAAAAAABq8/dXDmb7z-eAQ3ZmmEAJBnNc9-3HIj9n3KwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_20180426_194704.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />So ages ago I needed a windows 10 box for some open university software for a module I was doing. I picked up this Linx1010b baytrail powered tablet with keyboard dock for not very much coin and it certainly did the job.&nbsp; I like it as hardware and tbf it worked ok with windows 10 for the tasks I did on it... since the end of the module though I have not really used it and a big part of that is that I'm a linux dude at heart.<br /><br />So I decided to have a crack at getting a linux distro on it. A quick search revealed that it was possible but a little complex as it requires a 64 bit distribution but uses a 32 bit uefi. However I also discovered <a href="http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017/06/customizing-ubuntu-isos-documentation.html">a brilliant tool isorespin by Linuxium</a> which respins any 64bit iso and makes it bootable on not just the linx1010 device but many bay trail or apollo based devices. Not going to give many instructions on the isorespin tool as the linuxium site has plenty!<br /><br />I respan 3 different linux distributions Ubuntu, Lubuntu and Xubuntu, all booted on the linx 1010 and ran but with a few niggles on each. Ubuntu seemed a bit bloated and lubuntu and xubuntu seemed a bit quicker. Lubuntu and Xubuntu each had the issue that the screen on the linx1010b was rotated to portrait view, with lubuntu this was cured by downloading and installing ArandR which allowed screen rotation... but didn't persist on reboot. Another problem with Lubuntu was once the display was rotated the the axis on the touch screen were inverted and reversed, this was true in xubuntu also but again for xubuntu I found a persistant solution for this.<br /><br />I also had problems with wifi on each of the distributions, I found that the adapted wifi driver included in the linixium respin tool worked.. but only partially.. wifi would connect during the installation and on first boot.. but if I made any change to my wifi connection or indeed tried to swap to a different network it would fail until I rebooted again. I haven't quite solved this but have a workaround in that I am using a usb ralink wifi dongle which works flawlessly and I had disabled the internal wifi on the linx1010b (details below)<br /><br />So my process for Xubuntu to install and solve the few niggles is ...<br /><br /><ul><li>Use the linuxium isorespin tool to respin xubuntu 16.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso using only the option in isorespin to include common options for baytrail devices&nbsp;</li><li>Flash the resulting iso to a pen drive (I used etcher on my ubuntu box but you could use the dd commmand in a terminal)</li><li>Boot and install the xubuntu image onto the linx 1010b ... keyboard and trackpad work during install but the display is in portrait for the install so bend your neck!</li><li>After install find the monitor settings application and rotate the display to the right... aaaahhh and relax your neck! (note... when you boot the machine you will have to log in in portrait but it will rotate to landscape after login)</li><li>Now to fix the axis problems on the touch screen, hit cnt-alt-t to launch a terminal and then move to the following directory</li></ul><span style="background-color: lime;">cd /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Then edit the following file in nano..</span><br /><span style="background-color: lime;">sudo nano 10-evdev.conf</span><br /><br /><ul><li>Then you need to add the following highlighted lines in the screenshot below to the file and save the changes.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0QsRSvHv_E/WuL3CS0QnwI/AAAAAAAABqs/XIgoo5jSNTIhNQ8xUZsEOa23vIcmnRRVwCLcBGAs/s1600/10-evdev.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="593" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0QsRSvHv_E/WuL3CS0QnwI/AAAAAAAABqs/XIgoo5jSNTIhNQ8xUZsEOa23vIcmnRRVwCLcBGAs/s640/10-evdev.png" width="568" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><span style="background-color: lime;">sudo reboot&nbsp;</span><br /><br />And your touchscreen should now be working.<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>To disable the internal WiFi i used used ifconfig to work out which of the 2 WiFi devices was which and what they were named... I discovered that wlan0&nbsp; was my internal misbehaving linx1010b WiFi card so I then disabled this via running the following in a terminal</li></ul><span style="background-color: lime;">cd /etc/network</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: lime;">sudo nano interfaces</span><br /><br />and then add the following line to the file (replacing "wlan0"with your WiFi device name) and save<br /><br /><span style="background-color: lime;">iface wlan0 inet manual&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: lime;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">save and exit nano and then restart the network manager services by the command</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: lime;">sudo service network-manager restart</span><br /><span style="background-color: lime;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">You should then when you click on the WiFi applet only have the external WiF</span><span style="background-color: white;">i card enabled by default.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Finally I found that the installed firefox browser wasn't to good and wouldn't run youtube clips very well, for a long time I have been a chromium fan and indeed it didn't dissapoint after install with everything streaming and audio working etc... I always forget that to install chromium it isn't just apt-get install chromium but is in fact</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: lime;">sudo apt-get install chromium browser</span><br /><span style="background-color: lime;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">So there we go... I love it.. its a really nice super portable and has a great 9hr battery life and now lives up to its super hacky collection of stickers! I know that the mighty <a href="https://twitter.com/biglesp">@biglesp </a>is working on a similar project getting linux running on an apollo based teclast t7 so keep<a href="http://bigl.es/"> an eye on his blog for that!</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />jo hinchliffehttps://plus.google.com/102714756953960335018noreply@blogger.com0